BLIZARD kamikaze killers K-12514

Forging Metal Magic: Blizard’s ‘Kamikaze Killers’ (K-12514)

Let’s explore the powerful sophomore effort from Japanese heavy metal band Blizard, titled “Kamikaze Killers – My Tears Evaporate” (暗黒の警鐘). Released on December 21, 1984, via the Atlantic label (Warner-Pioneer Corporation), this 10-track, 12-inch vinyl LP carries the catalog number K-12514.

Arriving with astonishing speed – just five months after their acclaimed debut, “Blizard Of Wizard” – this album demonstrated the band’s intense creative drive. “Kamikaze Killers” is an ambitious concept album themed around “irrational love,” structured as a complete work bookended by the instrumental “Prologue Fallin’ Angel” and “Epilogue The End.”

Sound produced by Keisuke Tsukimitsu and co-produced/arranged by guitarist Toshiya Matsukawa, the album further refines the dramatic “Blizard sound” established on their debut. It masterfully blends the power of NWOBHM and US metal influences with the band’s signature style: highly melodic, often melancholic twin-guitar work, soaring high-pitched vocals, and a driving rhythm section. Tracks like “The Second Diamond” and the particularly epic “Fallin’ Angel” exemplify their dramatic and sophisticated approach to heavy metal.

Considered by many to be a masterpiece of 80s Japanese heavy metal, “Kamikaze Killers” (K-12514) showcased Blizard’s rapid development and solidified their unique musical identity. The release came complete with an obi strip, a fold-out color lyrics insert, and sometimes included stickers, making it a desirable package for fans and collectors seeking a cornerstone of the J-Metal genre.